Pistol Reccomendation?

[mark-hunter]

A minor detail on P210
First it was swiss Produced.
SIG P210, made in Switzerland
Then it was produced in Germany for export:
SIG Sauer P210, made in Germany
Then, I beleive, was produced in USA.
Sig Sauer (USA) P210, made in USA

There are minor differences in design. Swiss model will have magazine release on the bottom of hand grip, as the one @Red Leg has posted.

Modern versions (non swiss) are with thumb magazine release as in most of other modern pistols.
Which model is of better quality? Swiss, german, or american? I have no idea.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hello folks,

Now I'm settling in here in the USA, the next item on the agenda is to start doing some shooting!

I've never owned or shot a pistol before (because UK) and so I'd like to pick something up to have a play with.

Right now this will purely be for plinking and practice, although longer term I might have a look into some practical competition disciplines like IPSC or the like.

Right now I'm thinking that I want the following features:

9x19mm
Full size
Decent capacity (double stack) magazines
Good trigger
Capability to fit a red dot sight if I wish

I'm fairly flexible on budget, but as I'm a newb I reckon $1500 or under would be a decent limit and I can always upgrade later on if I wish.

What would people suggest?

Thanks!
Al.

Al, if its something that you are thinking about carrying, I would think twice about the full size. I've been down this road before. I had the S&W MP9 full size, and got rid of that to go to a compact. Personally, I have the Sig P320 Compact which takes about 15, and my wife has a Glock 43, which is only a single stack taking 6. If I had to do it over again, I would go even smaller, very possibly the Sub Compact.
I use mine mostly to give to my hunters to finish animals off, instead of blasting them with a 300 Mag from Point blank range.

 

[Nyati]

A minor detail on P210
First it was swiss Produced.
SIG P210, made in Switzerland
Then it was produced in Germany for export:
SIG Sauer P210, made in Germany
Then, I beleive, was produced in USA.
Sig Sauer (USA) P210, made in USA

There are minor differences in design. Swiss model will have magazine release on the bottom of hand grip, as the one @Red Leg has posted.

Modern versions (non swiss) are with thumb magazine release as in most of other modern pistols.
Which model is of better quality? Swiss, german, or american? I have no idea.

The original P 210 is a service pistol, used in Switzerland and Denmark by Army and Police.

Then Sig Sauer made different models for the civilian market, fixed/adjustable sight, 5/6 inches barrel, barrels for lead or jacketed bullets, normal or heavyweigh frames.....and it goes on.

I had one with adjustable sights, 5" barrel and heavyweight frame. Fery finicky with ammunition, but when fed with what it liked, it was the most accurate 9mm I owned or tried.

I read US made P210 use a different locking system than the Europeans, as to quality, I cannot say, but presume it shoud be top.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

There is an article in “Firearms News” about both the new and old Sig P210. I might be able to find it and share it with you guys if you are interested.

 

[Tanks]

I would suggest you stay away from striker fired guns like the Glock. An alway hot gun like the Glock is a great way to get yourself killed. There was an probation officer where I used to work, who was at the range practicing the fast draw. He grabbed the gun and it discharged into his leg, hitting an artery and bled to death.

The Glock maybe dishwasher safe, but it’s not safe.

That was obviously his and/or his instructor's fault, not the guns. I practice "fast draw" all the time, I do it at home by dry firing. For every live fire "fast draw", I probably have done thousands of dry fire with a timer.

Speaking of "dry fire" I would recommend it to any new shooter. First get some professional instruction to get the correct technique and then burn it in with dry fire.

Here is a good book on it, it applies to every day use, not just competition.

Amazon.com: DryFire Reloaded eBook : Stoeger, Ben: Kindle Store

Buy DryFire Reloaded: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[Red Leg]

That was obviously his and/or his instructor's fault, not the guns. I practice "fast draw" all the time, I do it at home by dry firing. For every live fire "fast draw", I probably have done thousands of dry fire with a timer.

Speaking of "dry fire" I would recommend it to any new shooter. First get some professional instruction to get the correct technique and then burn it in with dry fire.

Here is a good book on it, it applies to every day use, not just competition.

Amazon.com: DryFire Reloaded eBook : Stoeger, Ben: Kindle Store

Buy DryFire Reloaded: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

The same critical argument "traditional" semi-auto users (the pistol has a safety or decocking lever of some form) - make about striker fired designs can also be made about virtually every double action revolver that has been made in the last 150 years. They are also always "hot." Other than the French with a couple of obscure revolver designs (had safeties), we seem to have no problem with that.

 

[revturbo9967]

I would suggest getting one of everything.

 

[mark-hunter]

There is an article in “Firearms News” about both the new and old Sig P210. I might be able to find it and share it with you guys if you are interested.

I would be interested. Thanks in advance!

 

[Justin.]

Some fantastic advice and pictures of beautiful firearms in this thread! Hard to go wrong with what has been said already! Big fan of Sigs myself, but all the options presented so far make me want to pick up a Sig P210 or an STI and call it a day LOL!

 

[Justin.]

We agree on another thing (what a surprise ), STI DVC Carry is my daily CCW handgun. I switched to it some years ago when the newly hired STI director mentioned, at USPSA Nationals, that it did not make sense when people are firing tens of thousands of rounds with their competition SA handguns and then carrying weapons with a different manual of arms. He had one that I tried and I loved it. Took some effort to get it in CA, but here we are.

Top is my competition gun an SVI Infinity in .40S&W, Bottom is the STI DVC Carry that has 17 round double stack magazines (I load it to 16 though).

What’s your carry system? Do you try to replicate your competition rig as closely as possible within the limits of CCW laws in your state?

 

[mark-hunter]

Carry is another matter.
But true accuracy rests in model with 6 inch barrel. Sig sauer P210 super target 6''.
Very close or equal to, in accuracy is CZ 75 Sport 2, tuned by Waffen Oschatz (lothar walther barrel). Photos from internet.
Pistols for bulls eye shooting, 25 meters, 1 inch or better, accuracy guaranteed.

 

[Tanks]

What’s your carry system? Do you try to replicate your competition rig as closely as possible within the limits of CCW laws in your state?

Well. obviously I am not going to have dual belts with 4 magazines etc. for my carry system. I have both an over the belt and inside the belt holsters for the STI DVC Carry. I dry fire draws with both while wearing a shirt or jacket so comfortable with either.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I would be interested. Thanks in advance!

I will find and PM you tonight. Anyone else who would like to see it just ask.

 

[Alistair]

Al, if its something that you are thinking about carrying, I would think twice about the full size. I've been down this road before. I had the S&W MP9 full size, and got rid of that to go to a compact. Personally, I have the Sig P320 Compact which takes about 15, and my wife has a Glock 43, which is only a single stack taking 6. If I had to do it over again, I would go even smaller, very possibly the Sub Compact.
I use mine mostly to give to my hunters to finish animals off, instead of blasting them with a 300 Mag from Point blank range.

Nope, this isn't a carry gun. I'm not experienced enough with pistols to consider that right now, and if I do get to that stage I'll buys a dedicated pistol for the job. Probably a polymer framed subcompact, but who knows.

This is a pure range and competition gun. As such, weight is probably a good thing, as is barrel length, sight radius and capacity.

 

[Justin.]

Well. obviously I am not going to have dual belts with 4 magazines etc. for my carry system. I have both an over the belt and inside the belt holsters for the STI DVC Carry. I dry fire draws with both while wearing a shirt or jacket so comfortable with either.

LOL fair play!

Nice! Really like seeing how other guys conceal carry full size rigs! Absolutely lovely guns!

 

[curtism1234]

Lot's of good advise. I would personally start with a Ruger Single Six, Ruger SP101 22lr, or Ruger Mark...whatever series number they are on now...semi auto 22. But a 9mm is a good starter for a semiauto centerfire for those with previous long gun experience.

My biggest advise: pay extra attention to where the muzzle is pointed. For some reason you give an experienced long gunner a rifle he will point it in a safe direction; you all of sudden give him a hand gun and it's pointed all over the damn place.

 

[wvhunt]

Lots of good choices. I'm a Glock fan, but if you're more comfortable with traditional DA/SA, something in the Sig 226 line would work great.

 

[BeeMaa]

His & Hers...Springfield XD-M 9 in Galco Avenger holsters. We are fans of strong side OWB holsters, but we do have a couple for IWB carry around here somewhere.

 

[mark-hunter]

This is a pure range and competition gun. As such, weight is probably a good thing, as is barrel length, sight radius and capacity.

Most of match pistols will have a slide that is fitted inside the frame - "male system". Arguably the male type slide system makes better inherent accuracy. I am writing this, so when choosing the handgun, to take note of this. Today not many models, have this system. To understand what I am saying, I posted below a photo of the pistols slide back side, of p210. It is fitted inside the main frame. (same feature is in common CZ 75B)
I also posted below another system from 1911, where slide is fitted as female part on the frame.

In any case when you start sorting out trough various models, if your object is training at range, accuracy and competiton, check the slide system of the pistol, first. My suggestion would be to take the model with "male" type slide.

Finally, since you did not mention which sport shooting disciplines are interesting for you, I beleive that most versatile pistol for sport iz CZ shadow 2. It will cover IPSC and classic bulls eye shooting. And has an excellent accuracy, and it is inline to what I have written above.
(photos from internet)

 

[wvhunt]

Most of match pistols will have a slide that is fitted inside the frame - "male system". Arguably the male type slide system makes better inherent accuracy. I am writing this, so when choosing the handgun, to take note of this. Today not many models, have this system.

I'm shooting from memory, but I would have thought there are far more match pistols with the slide outside the frame. I'm not saying one system is superior to the other, but the custom 1911's have ruled Bullseye for years.